St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-10
TEACHING TEMPERANCE.
Some More Conundrums Over the State
Temperance Teaching.
THE LAW MAKES TROUBLE.
Attorney General Clapp Thinks the
Children May Be Made to Use
the Books.

ApropoS of the discussion arising
over the law requiring the instruction
IN public schools of the effect of stimu-
liant and narcotics on the human sys-
TEN, Supt. Kiehle, on the 9th inst, sub
mitted the following inquiries to the at
tOrney general:
"Can parents, who are able to do so,
be compelled to furnish their children
with temperance text book in the pub
lie schools? If so, who shall determine
the particular book they shall buy? In
case of refusal to buy it, what is the
duty of the teacher, county superin-
tendent and board? Will regular and
systematic instruction, of portion of
the school, class of four or five for in
stance, to the exclusion the rest, who
payShO attention to the subject during
the entire course. fulfill the require
ments of the law?'
Attorney General Clapp wrote the
following reply:
The so-called temperance text book
bill, directed the recommendation by
the superintendent of public instruction
and the presidents of the normal
schools of the state, of a suitable text
book to be studied, pursuant to the act
in question. 1t has been held that the
recommendation so made is only adylS-
DRY. The trustees and board of edu-
cation, being vested by law with author
ity in the control and management of
our public schools, can adopt such re-
commentator or select other text books,
as they may prefer, provided such other
books are such as are contemplated by
the law under consideration. When
they determine what text book shall be
used pupils can be compelled
to furnish such books and
STUDY SUCH BOOKS
or be expelled for their refusal to do so.
The right of the board to make needful
rules and enforce the same is too well
grounded to warrant even citation OF
authority i'll support thereof. 1t is the
province of the board or trustees, as the
case may be, to determine the books
which shall be used, but is the province
of the teacher in his immediate contact
with the pupil to determine what one OF
the books prescribed particular pupil
shall study: the same as it would be
in determining what grade OF any given
study pupil should pursue. In. case
of refusal to buy or study the book rec
commended by the board, it is primarily
the duty of the teacher to enforce Obedi-
ence to the rules and requirements
made for the government of the school,
and if the teacher is unable to enforce
obedience he should apply to the trus-
tees or board of education. as the case
might be. who then have authority to
suspend the pupil for INSTRUMENTATION
and refusal to comply with the rules.
| would suggest that in all cases of con-
flict it would be better for the
teacher to refer the matter at once to
the board, as somewhat different rule
obtains as TO the liability of teachers
and trustees. The law cOntemplateS
that all pupils shall be taught the
branches referred to in the act under
consideration. and giving such lnStruc-
lions to a portion OF the school, and not
to the balance of the school, would not
be compliance with the law, unless,
possibly, some of the pupils were so
young that there was no book upon the
subject sufficiently elementary to be
suitable.
TEACHERS QUALIFICATIONS.
In another letter Mr.. .Kiehle inquiries
whether or not teachers, in order to i'll
struct under the temperance act. must
first pass an examination and receive
certificate; also, whether principals
should possess the certificate. Attorney
General Clapp expressed the following
official opinion: The law provides
IndI no CerIl1cdJc Siltll De lSSueu W any
teacher after the LIST of January unless
such teacher has passed satisfactory
examination in these studies. After
! the 1st of January, 1888, no teacher
could be employed who did not possess
such certificate, but teachers already
| nnder employment, secured under
certificates heretofore granted
| and which at the time they
were issued were such as the law re-
Quired, would be permitted to teach the
term of their contract without passing
this examination or securing the certifi-
cate contemplated by the temperance
textbook act. but no contract could be
made after the lSt of January with a
teacher unless such teacher possessed a
certificate as contemplated by the act
referred to. These suggestions have Il
general application to teachers under
employment OH the 1St of January. |
have no doubt but that principals should
| possess the same qualifications as those
engaged in actual teaching. The law
contemplateS that these branches shall
be taught In order that they be taught
teachers and principals should be quail
fed to teach them.'